“I think the stewardess must have taken charge of it. You didn’t seem particularly keen about eating it yourselves last night. You can have anything you want for breakfast.”
Jerry began climbing down from his high bed.
“I’m ready,” he announced cheerfully; “it’s good I haven’t got to stop to dress. I never went to bed with my clothes on before, but I like it; it saves so much trouble. I don’t think I’ll stop to wash. I haven’t had anything to eat since lunch time yesterday.”
Just then Gretel and Geraldine woke up, and the steward told them they were already in Baltimore harbor, and the boat would be at her dock in a few minutes.
It was more than half an hour later, however, before the three rather bedraggled little figures made their appearance on deck. In the meantime they had been provided with a bountiful breakfast, to which they had all done justice, but notwithstanding that fact, and the reassuring knowledge that they were actually in Baltimore, all three faces were very grave and troubled. The stewardess had assured them that they would be cared for, and their friends communicated with, but that there was nothing for them to do but remain on board all day, and go back to Old Point on the return trip that night.
“It isn’t always as bad as last night,” Gretel said, trying to speak cheerfully. “It was really quite smooth the night Percy and I came. Perhaps you won’t be sick going back.”
The twins shuddered.
“I think a boat is the most dreadful place in the world,” declared Geraldine. “Oh, don’t you suppose we could get off, and go back by the train?”
Gretel shook her head decidedly.
“And they never made up a purse for us, after all,” exclaimed Jerry, in a tone of disgust, and he glanced about the almost deserted deck, for the boat was now at her pier, and most of the passengers had already gone on shore.